Davis defies the odds

Twenty-seven-year old Alabama pro making a name for himself in rookie season

If one was to take a look at the current Kellogg’s Angler of the Year standings, there would be no surprise to see the names Dudley, Moynagh, Powroznik, Thrift, Yelas and Clausen sitting around the top. A closer look also reveals a name that is foreign to most, yet is sitting seventh in the AOY race. That name is Clent Davis of Montevallo, Ala.

Growing up in the shadows of the great Alabama fisheries, Davis dreamed to one day become a professional angler. He began to fish tournaments when he was 12 years old. Being escorted by his parents to Lay Lake on the weekends, he spent his early years getting his “butt whooped,” by many of the FLW Tour and BASS Elite Series pros. But with every defeat, he desire to better his skills only grew.

When it came time to attend college, Davis looked no further than the University of Montevallo in Alabama. Like most, when Davis arrived on campus he wanted to join a club. Not just any club, a fishing club. Seeing the rapid growth of college fishing, Davis knew it would be a good chance to grow as an angler. So with the help of a few buddies the University of Montevallo Bass Anglers Association was founded.

“College fishing tournaments really helped me learn about bass fishing and fishing tournaments,” said Davis. “We got to travel all over and fish different bodies of water which I have never seen before. It really helped me learn how to study and break down a lake before I even get to it. Another big thing I learned was how to fish two- or three-day tournaments. I basically only had experience fishing single-day events but I quickly learned how to conserve fish for the next day.”

He spent his college years fishing several different circuits to gain maximum exposure to fishing around the country. Included in these events were the Southeastern Division National Guard FLW College Fishing tournaments on Wheeler, Guntersville and Okeechobee. Davis and his teammate never dominated by any means, though they did keep an average finish in the top 20.

Outside of fishing every moment he could, Davis also hit the books hard. He graduated with a major in kinesiology and a minor in history. He entertained thoughts of furthering his schooling, but followed his gut and took his interest in fishing to another level.

“I didn’t know how hard it would be to get to the top level in bass fishing but I quickly found out,” chuckled Davis.

It wasn’t until a fateful fall day that Davis found the help he would need to make it to the top level.

“I was actually at an Alabama vs. Auburn football game when I met Justin Lucas. We started talking and I found out that he had just moved to Alabama and was looking for a place to stay. I just happened to have an open spot at my place so I offered him to stay with me.

“Justin moved in shortly after and kept talking to me about fishing the FLW Tour as a co-angler. He said it would be a great learning experience and a good avenue to launch me to the pro side if I wanted.”

In 2010, Davis fished an EverStart and an FLW Tour event as a co-angler with mixed results – a fifth-place finish on the Tour and a top 50 on the EverStart. After talking more with Lucas, Davis made his mind up to fish the entire 2011 Tour season as a co-angler.

His finishes were nothing special until the Red River event where he placed 18th and cashed a check. Then in the final tournament of the year on Pickwick Lake, Davis won the Co-angler Division by a whopping 7-pound margin.

At the same time Davis also fished the EverStart Southeastern Division as a pro. In the spring, he scored impressive finishes back-to-back on Guntersville and Eufaula – taking second and third respectively while also building his confidence to fish with the best.

Fast forward to 2012, when Davis decided to make the big move to the front of the boat on the FLW Tour. He began the season down on Okeechobee for the first Open of the year. Davis would find his worst finish on the Big O, but didn’t let it faze him.

“I just brushed it off; I had never done well there before,” the 27-year-old exclaimed.

“After Okeechobee I was ready to go to Lake Hartwell. I was so set on trying to figure out how to get the Alabama rig to run; I spent two days on that basically. That is really what hurt me. I ended up missing a check by one place, by 1 ounce in fact, which is what really set the fire under me. I knew then that I would have to start fishing harder and smarter.”

And set a fire it did. Davis finished the Hartwell event in 74th place. He came back the next event on Table Rock with a top 10. From that point on the lowest place that Davis would find himself in was 36th on Beaver Lake.

“The toughest part about this game is trying to break down a lake in three days. But on the other hand I think what really has helped me this year is my lack of history on these bodies of water. I don’t have to waste time running around checking old spots like some guys. I can just go look and keep an open mind.”

Davis also noted how important pretournament research has been in helping him before he ever puts the boat in the water.

“I really feel like I have gotten better at reading and researching stuff on the Internet and on maps. It definitely gives me more confidence. It helps that I have a general idea on what parts of the lake to look at when I get to these big bodies of water I have never seen before.”

Now going into the final FLW Tour Major of the year on Lake Champlain – another lake Davis has never seen – he sits in seventh place in the AOY standings and leads the Rookie of the Year race by 21 points.

“It’s a pretty awesome position to be in. I don’t really feel any pressure on me, and really I haven’t even thought about Rookie of the Year. All I know is I think I have to pretty much weigh in one fish to make the Forrest Wood Cup. I’m going to put all my eggs into one basket and go for the win on Champlain.”

To add to the excitement, Davis recently got engaged with the wedding slated for this fall.

“I’m going to be a busy man after Champlain. Between then and the Cup I have all kinds of wedding activities to focus on.”

Perhaps wedding planning will serve as the perfect diversion to keep a young angler from constantly thinking about the richest tournament in professional bass fishing.